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WGCL-TV outsourcing its sports coverage to 790/The Zone

For some reason radio doesn't play that well on television. I think it's the lack of VIDEO, but I could be wrong. ;D
 
This is earth shattering considering most people haven't watched a local news sportscast in a decade.
 
I am taking bets as to when Steven "Brisket" Shapiro makes his first appearance as sports anchor on the 11 o'clock news.
 
No one here will say it, but this is a shrewd promotional move for WQXI.

Their brand will have a daily presence on TV and online beyond the realm of what they were doing on their own. They can be active contributors in TV sports coverage in a top TV market. When local sports news breaks: "Sports Radio 790 the Zone is reporting that..." And as Mr. Ho noted, CBS Sports itself has a lot of properties (SEC football and hoops, NFL, PGA golf) that they could cross promote their coverage with.
 
This is a money saving move on WGCL's part. TV stations nationwide are shutting sports departments to save money.

Mark Harmon is a 46 original, being with the station since the indie WGNX "News at 10" days in 1989. I wonder he will be sports director at WSB-TV upon Chuck Dowdle's retirement?

Good move for the Zone though...it will give them an edge if and when "The Fan" goes FM.
 
I wonder if this will curtail The Stew’s on ESPN. Since 46 is not a CBS O & O, there should not be a “cross network” issue, but what about the time factor? How fast can a jet fly to and from the ESPN gig? The Zone should use the Stews a lot because they have the most TV exposure.
 
Boggles the mind how a 1 share radio stations bills $14M a year and then takes over a television network affiliate sports department.
These are some guys that know how to sale......
 
secondchoice said:
I wonder if this will curtail The Stew’s on ESPN. Since 46 is not a CBS O & O, there should not be a “cross network” issue, but what about the time factor? How fast can a jet fly to and from the ESPN gig? The Zone should use the Stews a lot because they have the most TV exposure.
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For real? Yeah the Stews are going to give up their network gig on the four letter network to do a 3 minute sportscast on the number 4 rated new program in Atlanta. I would be surprised to see them on any of the newscasts. More likely on the other sports programming.
 
It doesn't shock me that the third-rated (fourth?) news operation in Atlanta is shutting down its sports department. I predict if they remain mired in a ratings slump, it'll be lights out on the entire 46 News department. Although I can't imagine their ratings are that bad at 11 PM. I believe I read that WXIA, like most NBC affiliates and O&O's, are experiencing ratings weaknesses as a result of the new nightly "Jay Leno Show" at 10 PM.
 
I think the internet and 24-Hour channels like ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, etc. is having a lot to do with local sports reporting struggling more these days.  For example, look how the AJC has cut back on sending local reporters to major sporting events, such as last year's Super Bowl.  Also, with more than 60% of people in the Metro Atlanta area being transients from other parts of the country, they are very likely going to the 24-hour sports channels or their hometown web sites to get sports coverage of their favorite teams instead of watching Atlanta Stations that focus mostly on the local teams.
 
JR1967 said:
I think the internet and 24-Hour channels like ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, etc. is having a lot to do with local sports reporting struggling more these days. For example, look how the AJC has cut back on sending local reporters to major sporting events, such as last year's Super Bowl. Also, with more than 60% of people in the Metro Atlanta area being transients from other parts of the country, they are very likely going to the 24-hour sports channels or their hometown web sites to get sports coverage of their favorite teams instead of watching Atlanta Stations that focus mostly on the local teams.
Click to expand...
It could be worse. The Chattanooga News-Free Press covers UT-Chattanooga (natch), Tennessee, and UGA. They do NOT cover any other DI-A teams such as Vandy, MTSU, Tech, or any Alabama teams (Bama, Auburn, Troy), despite being the paper of record in the tri-state area.

Point is, if all you offer is a box score (if that), and/or are too selective about who or what you cover, people are going to look elsewhere for coverage and analysis and probably won't come back a second time.
 
The Zone’s days of billing $14 million are LOOONG gone. All you have to do is listen to the length and number of spots in the stop sets, and Brandon and Woolvie. Inexpensive.

WGCL is reeling like all stations in town including the Zone. The Zone gets to work it for cheap, or free (you’d be surprised what they’d sell out for) and Cellini, Dimino and Steakie get their mugs all over TV. It’s been said they’ll only work weekends which would not interfere with their drunken teenage behavior.

The Stews will not be a part of it. The highest paid personalities don’t work for cheap, or need exposure from the lowest rated TV station in town.
 
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